Slant mounted laundry machine

ABSTRACT

A cylindrical tub of an imperforate leakproof construction is supported on a frame for rotation about its longitudinal axis without the use of an outer stationary shell or case and is mounted with its axis fixed and inclined to the horizontal. The tub is loaded through an opening at its upper end and is unloaded through an opening in its lower end closed during a washing, rinsing or drying operation by a door hinged to the frame. A special dynamic seal between the door and tub permits rotation of the tub without leakage and a chamber in the door which is in communication with the tub through a perforated inside wall of the door provides a hydraulic action between the washing chamber and the body of free washing liquid in the door chamber to achieve an efficient washing action. The rotating tub is provided with internal lifting fins.

United States Patent Files [54] SLANT MOUNTED LAUNDRY MACHINE [72] Inventor: William C. Files, Cincinnati, Ohio [73] Assignee: McGraw-Edison Company, Elgin, Ill.

[22] Filed: March 11, 1971 [2]] Appl. No.: 123,175

[ 1 July 18,1972

Primary Examiner-William 1. Price Attorney-George H. Fritzinger 57 ABSTRACT A cylindrical tub of an imperforate leakproof construction is supported on a frame for rotation about its longitudinal axis without the use of an outer stationary shell or case and is mounted with its axis fixed and inclined to the horizontal. The tub is loaded through an opening at its upper end and is unloaded through an opening in its lower end closed during a washing, rinsing or drying operation by a door hinged to the frame. A special dynamic seal between the door and tub permits rotation of the tub without leakage and a chamber in the door which is in communication with the tub through a perforated inside wall of the door provides a hydraulic action between the washing chamber and the body of free washing liquid in the door chamber to achieve an efficient washing action. The rotating tub is provided with internal lifting fins.

FIG. 1

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WILLIAM C. FILEES AGENT SLANT MOUNTED LAUNDRY MACHINE The present laundry machine is intended especially for washing operations but it is useful as well for rinsing, drying, dry cleaning with the use of a solvent and solvent reclaiming. When a laundry machine of the character mentioned is mounted for rotation about an axis inclined to the horizontal the internal fns have a lifting action on the work which provides for an efficient operation. In the present machine the efficiency is augmented by the hydraulic action which takes place between the washing chamber and the free washing liquid in the door chamber. Further, a slant mounted machine permits the upper end of the tub to be left open for hopper loading and pennits both loading and unloading without stopping the tub.

An object of the invention is to provide an improved laundry machine for washing, rinsing, drying and/or dry cleaning operations which permits these operations to be carried out more expeditiously and more efficiently than has been heretofore possible.

Another object is to fulfill the aforestated objective with the use of equipment which is highly economical to build, maintain ans service.

Another object is to provide a slant mounted rotating tub with a hinged unloading door at the lower end wherein an improved dynamic seal of a leakproof and long-life character is provided between the rotating tub and the stationary door.

Another object is to provide such slant mounted laundry machine having an imperforate rotating tub and a hollow door at the bottom for containing a body of free washing liquid in communication with the tub chamber so that there will be an interflow of washing liquid between the tub chamber and a body of free washing liquid to keep the supplies in the washing liquid evenly distributed and to aid in the rinsing away of the soil from the work being laundered.

Another object is to provide the door chamber with drain valves and with the desired indicating instruments and accessory controls.

These and other objects and features of the invention will be apparent from the following description and the appended claims.

FIG. 1 is a side elevational view of a slant mounted laundry machine according to the invention showing the unloading door in closed position and by dash-dot lines in open position;

FIG. 2 is a rear elevational view looking towards the unloading end of the present laundry machine;

FIG. 3 is a section to enlarged scale on the line 33 of FIG. 2 showing details of construction of the unloading door;

FIG. 4 is a view to still larger scale of the drain valve assembly on the unloading door as seen from the outer end of the door with the cover plate removed; and

FIG. 5 is a view looking into the loading hopper atthe top of the machine.

The present laundry machine has a frame comprising a lower rectangular section 11 and a slanted upper section 12. The lower section 11 comprises lower and upper channel members 13 and 14 at the sides (FIG. 1), transverse lower and upper channel members 15 and 16 at the front and back (FIG. 2), and vertical channel posts 17 at the corners all welded into a unitary structure. Within this lower section there is a rectangular tank 18 to hold for instance a washing bath for re-use or as a chamber of a circulating system during continuous rinse. The upper section 12 comprises a bottom rectangular structure of horizontal angle irons 19 at the sides and horizontal angle irons 20 at the front and back all welded together at the corners and seated securely on the lower section 11. Welded to the side angle irons 19 are slanted front and back parallel angle irons 21 and 22 at the sides joined by sloping side angle irons 23 and horizontal transverse front and back angle irons 24, forming thus a backward slanting cage structure. Extending vertically from the front comers of the lower section 11 are angle irons 25 which rise to the height of the front slanted angle irons 21, and joining the upper ends of these angle irons 25 to the upper ends of the slanted angle irons 21 are side horizontal angle irons 26. As shown in FIG. 1, the upper sloping side angle irons 23 are extended ahead of the front slanted angle irons 21 and are joined by angle irons 27 at right angles thereto to midpoints of the front vertical angle irons 25. The front ends of the side angle irons 23 are joined by a cross horizontal angle iron 28 partially shown in FIG. 2. All joints of these members are welded securely to form a rigid frame structure.

Mounted in the slanted upper frame section 12 in a downwardly slanting direction from front to back i.e., from left to right in FIG. 1 is a tub 29 made of imperforate sheet metal. This tub has a front main cylindrical section 29a, and intermediate frusto-conical section 29b and a rear cylindrical throat section 290. The main section 29a is surrounded by an annular track 30 riding on a pair of supporting rollers 31 mounted on the slanting frame channel members 21. Mounted on the frusto-conical section 29b midway the length thereof is an annular angle iron track 32 having a rim flange 32a on its side facing the front of the tub. The track 32 rides on a pair of supporting rollers 33 carried by the slanted frame channel members 22, and the flange 32a rides against a pair of rollers 34 joumaled in bracket 35 also secured to the channel frame members. The rollers 31 and 33 support the tub 29 rotatably in a vertical direction and the rollers 34 support the tub rotatably in its longitudinal direction, the mounting of the tub being such that it is supported in a downward slanted direction inclined to such extent that the frusto-conical wall section 29b is approximately level with the horizontal at its bottom. The main cylindrical section 29a and the cylindrical throat section 290 are on a common longitudinal axis AA as indicated in FIG. 1. The throat has a circular opening 36 which is the unloading opening of the tub and the front end wall 37 of the tub has a central circular opening 38 comparable in diameter to the throat opening and forming the loading opening for the tub through which the work, water and supplies (soap, detergents, etc.) are introduced. Rotation of the tub is effected by a motor 39 on a platform 40 below the tub, the motor having a drive pulley 41 coupled by a series of V belts 42 to a wide annular track 43 on the main section 29a of the tub. As the tub rotates a set of fins 44 on the inside wall lifts the work as they pass through a lower portion of each revolution and drops the work as they pass through the upper portion thereof to provide an efficient washing operation.

The loading opening 38 is formed by a circular flange or lip 45 turned in from the end wall 37 as indicated in FIG. 1. Mounted on the forward upper portion of the frame section 12 is a hopper 46 open to the top. The back inside wall of the hopper has a cylindrical throat 47 which extends with clearance through the opening 38. Secured to the lip 37 is an annular angle iron 48 and secured by a band 49 surrounding the rim of the throat 47 is a circular flexible flap 50 as of rubber which bears slidably against the inside flange of the angle iron 48 to form a sliding seal between the hopper and the tub. In order to prevent splashing of washing liquid in the tub through the loading opening as the tub is rotated, the opening 38 is covered by a split flexible flap 51 as of rubber draped from the upper edge of the opening so it will yield to the gravity flow of work and supplies to allow the same to enter the tub as they are dumped into the hopper 46 (FIG. 5).

The unloading opening 36 is closed by a door 52 having a cylindrical section 520 secured at its outer side to a wide channel frame 52b having extending side wall portions at the top fonning arms 52c. These arms are hinged on a cross shaft 53 mounted via rubber bushing 53a in a U-shaped bracket 54. The bracket is secured to the top lateral angle iron 24 at the back of the frame structure 12. The yieldable mounting of the shaft 53 in the bracket 54 is to permit the door to follow any eccentricities in the mounting of the rotating tub and permit an effective seal to be maintained between the door and the tub as will appear. Air cylinders 55 at the side of the bracket 54 are hinged to the frame at 56 and have rearwardly extending piston rods 57 pivoted at 58 to the opposite sides of the door 52 a short distance below the hinge 53. These air cylinders are charged with air pressure at their base ends via inlets 59 to open the door and via inlets 60 at their outer ends to close the door.

In operation, the washing liquid will typically have a level up to about two-thirds the height of the unloading opening 36 requiring therefor a liquid tight seal between the door and the rotating rim or throat of the tub 29. In providing this seal the cylindrical section 52a of the door is made smaller than the throat opening by about one-half inch and the door is extended into the throat opening when the door is closed with the seal being interposed between the cylindrical section 52a and the inside wall of the throat 29c. This main seal comprises a sealing ring 61 of a specially molded construction having a shape in cross section as shown in FIG. 3. The sealing ring comprises a mounting band 61a surrounding the cylindrical section 52a of the door and secured liquid tight thereto by a surrounding steel band 62 tightened by a draw bolt 63 traversing lugs 62a turned up from the band. Integral with the mounting band 61a is a continuing band 61b offset outwardly at 64 to clear a rim 65 on the door section 52a. The band 61a extends past the inner wall 66 of the door section 52a and has an end portion 610 curved back on itself and terminating in a flared lip 61d that slidably engages the inside wall of the throat 290 near the outer end of the throat. A stiffening rib 61c extends obliquely from the base of the lip 61d to the band 615 to hold the lip in firm contact with the throat 29c. When the door is closed the lip 61d not only engages the throat due to the resilient character of the seal 61 but also responds to the pressure of the washing fluid against the extending band 61b of the seal.

Inset from the end of the throat 29c is an annular angle iron 67 having one leg 67a thereof welded along its outer edge at 68 to the inside wall of the throat and having a flange 67b in spaced parallel relation to the throat and extending towards the open end thereof. Secured to the flange 67b by a steel band 69 is an annular sealing flap 70. This flap 70 has a lip 70a curved radially inwardly beyond the flange 67b which seats slidably against the inside wall 66 of the door when the door is closed. The purpose of this second seal is to keep the work in the tub from getting down against the main seal 61 and disturbing its even engagement with the inside wall of the throat 29c.

The usual washing machine of perforated rotating tub and spaced surrounding case has a constant flow of washing liquid between the tub and the free chamber between the tub and the case to provide the so-called hydraulic action necessary to obtain an efficient washing operation. A shell-less horizontal or slant-mounted machine has the desirable lifting action produced by the internal fins but suffers from the lack of the so-called hydraulic action. In the present machine this defect is overcome by providing a chamber in the unloading door. To this end the door is provided with the cylindrical section 52a and is made of a hollow construction to have therein a chamber 73 for containing a quantity of free washing liquid typically of about one-third of the overall quantity of washing liquid used in any one batch in the washing chamber. This free washing liquid in the door chamber 73 is in communication with the washing liquid in the tub via a series of apertures 74 in the inside wall 66 of the door. Thus, there is an interchange of washing liquid between tub and the chamber 73 in the door during a washing operation to provide the needed hydraulic action which keeps the supplies evenly distributed and which enables the soil to be rinsed out of the work more efficiently. This hydraulic action together with the lifting action of the fins 44 arising from the slant mounting of the tub gives the highest possible washing efficiency. This is true whether the machine is used for washing, rinsing or dry cleaning.

Further features are that draining, temperature measurement, level control, steam injection, etc. can be incorporated in the door for easy access in the present machine design. For instance, a wide funnel 76 is located directly below the open end of the throat 29c and leads into a floor drain (not shown) below the machine. At the bottom of the chamber 73 in the door section 52:: there is a dump valve 77 controlled by an air cylinder 78 which when opened while the door 52 is closed allows the washing liquid to be drained fully from the tub via the chamber 73 and an elbow pipe 79 that leads from the left side of the door into the funnel 76. Also, when the bath has been drained and the door 52 begins to open to unload the tub, any water from the wet load will first run into a drain deflector 52d surrounding the lower half portion of the door and then flow into the funnel.

At a level above the dump valve 77 there is in the door chamber 73 a second valve 81 controlled by an air cylinder 80. This valve leads via a second elbow pipe 82 at the right side of the door to discharge into a duct 83 leading into the tank 18 in the bottom frame section 11. This valve is opened while the door 52 is closed to drain the wash liquid from the tub into the tank 18 from where it is pumped back into the tub for re-use via the upper loading opening 38, as during a continuous rinse operation.

A pipe 84 leading downwardly back of the channel frame 52b of the door (FIG. 2) has a double elbow 85 at its lower end which passes into the chamber 73 via a fitting 86. This pipe is connected at its upper end via a valve and tubing (not shown) to a source of steam. Such steam valve is controlled by a thermostat 87 having its sensitive element situated in the chamber 73 to control the steam valve and maintain the bath at a preset temperature. Further, a second pipe 88 leads downwardly and through the wall of the door into the chamber 73 as is also shown in FIG. 2. This pipe is a level control which goes to a reducing coupling (not shown) from which a small line goes to a sensing switch (not shown) as is well known in the art. The air in the pipe is under pressure in accordance with the water level and the air operates the pressure switch as necessary to control the emission of water to bring the water to a predetermined level. Still further, a water temperature indicator 89 is connected via a pipe 90 to the chamber 73 through the front wall of the door 52 and is connected also to a sight gauge 91 leading upwardly along the left side of the channel frame 52b (FIGS. 1 and 2) to provide a visual indication of the level of the bath in the tub.

The embodiment of my invention herein particularly shown and described is intended to be illustrative and not necessarily limitative of my invention since the same is subject to changes and modifications without departure from the scope of my invention, which 1 endeavor to express according to the following claims:

I claim:

1. In a laundry machine: the combination of a stationary frame, a washer tub of imperforate construction and of a generally cylindrical shape for containing a work load and a washing liquid, said tub having loading and unloading circular openings in the opposite ends thereof concentric with the longitudinal axis of the tub, means free of said circular openings for supporting said tub on said frame in an inclined relationship to the horizontal for rotation about its longitudinal axis, said tub being mounted on said supporting means with the loading opening at the upper end and the unloading opening at the lower end thereof, and a door hinged to said frame for said unloading opening, said door having a circular sealing ring slidably engaging the tub around said unloading opening for enabling said tub to be rotated without leakage of washing liquid from said opening when said door is closed.

2. The laundry machine set forth in claim 1 wherein said tub has a cylindrical throat around said unloading opening, and said sealing ring is mounted on the inner face of said door and comprises an annular sealing member of yieldable material slidably engaging said throat under pressure of the washing liquid in said tub when said door is closed.

3. The laundry machine set forth in claim 2 including a flexible hinge for said door permitting eccentricities in the rotation of said tub without disturbing the engagement of said sealing member with said throat.

4. The laundry machine set forth in claim 2 including a baffle in the form of an annular angle member on the inner portion of said throat forming a protective sheath enveloping said sealing member to prevent the work load in said tub from contacting said sealing member and disturbing its engagement with said throat.

5. The laundry machine set forth in claim 4 wherein said angle member comprises one wing extending at right angles from said throat and an inner wing paralleling said throat and positioned at the inner side of said sealing member, including a flexible band mounted on said inner wing and extending beyond the edge thereof for slidably engaging the inner wall of said door when the door is closed.

6. The laundry machine set forth in claim 1 wherein said loading opening is left open to receive a work load at any time, including a splash flap on said frame and draped across said loading opening, said splash flap being yieldably movable to open position by pressure of a work load when the same is dumped into said loading opening.

7. In a laundry machine: the combination of a stationary frame, a washer tub of imperforate construction and of a generally cylindrical shape for containing a work load and a washing liquid, said tub having loading and unloading circular openings in the opposite ends thereof concentric with the longitudinal axis of the tub, means free of said circular openings for supporting said tub on said frame in an inclined relationship to the horizontal for rotation about its longitudinal axis, said tub being mounted on said supporting means with the loading opening at the upper end and the unloading opening at the lower end thereof, a sealing door for said unloading opening engageable with said tub during rotation of the latter to close said unloading opening without leakage of washing liquid, and support means for said door hinged to said frame to permit the door to be swung between open and closed positions.

8. The laundry machine set forth in claim 7 wherein said door has a chamber therein for a supply of free washing liquid, and the inner wall of said door is perforated to permit an interflow of washing liquid between said chamber and said tub.

9. The laundry machine set forth in claim 8 including a dump valve at the bottom of said chamber, a drain funnel at the lower end of said machine, and an outlet pipe leading from said dump valve to said drain funnel when said door is closed.

10. The laundry machine set forth in claim 8 including a drain valve at an intermediate level in said chamber of said door, a tank below said machine for re-use washing liquid to be pumped back into said tub, and a drain pipe leading from said drain valve to said tank when said door is closed.

11. The laundry machine set forth in claim 8 including a temperature sensing means in said door chamber for indicating the temperature of said washing liquid.

12. The laundry machine set forth in claim 11 including a steam inlet duct to said chamber controlled by said temperature sensing means for controlling an inflow of steam to maintain said washing liquid at a preset temperature.

13. The laundry machine set forth in claim 8 including a level sensing means, and an inlet duct leading from said sensing means into said chamber for controlling the level of the washing liquid in said tub.

14. In a laundry machine: the combination of a stationary frame, a washer tub of imperforate construction and of a generally cylindrical shape for containing a work load and a washing liquid, said tub having loading and unloading circular openings in the opposite ends thereof concentric with the longitudinal axis of the tub, means free of said circular openings for supporting said tub on said frame in an inclined relationship to the horizontal for rotation about its longitudinal axis, said tub being mounted on said supporting means with the loading opening at the upper end and the unloading opening at the lower end thereof, a door for said unloading opening, said door having a chamber therein for a supply of free washing liquid, said chamber being open to said tub to permit an interflow of washing liquid between said chamber and said tubv 

1. In a laundry machine: the combination of a stationary frame, a washer tub of imperforate construction and of a generally cylindrical shape for containing a work load and a washing liquid, said tub having loading and unloading circular openings in the opposite ends thereof concentric with the longitudinal axis of the tub, means free of said circular openings for supporting said tub on said frame in an inclined relationship to the horizontal for rotation about its longitudinal axis, said tub being mounted on said supporting means with the loading opening at the upper end and the unloading opening at the lower end thereof, and a door hinged to said frame for said unloading opening, said door having a circular sealing ring slidably engaging the tub around said unloading opening for enabling said tub to be rotated without leakage of washing liquid from said opening when said door is closed.
 2. The laundry machine set forth in claim 1 wherein said tub has a cylindrical throat around said unloading opening, and said sealing ring is mounted on the inner face of said door and comprises an annular sealing member of yieldable material slidably engaging said throat under pressure of the washing liquid in said tub when said door is closed.
 3. The laundry machine set forth in claim 2 including a flexible hinge for said door permitting eccentricities in the rotation of said tub without disturbing the engagement of said sealing member with said throat.
 4. The laundry machine set forth in claim 2 including a baffle in the form of an annular angle member on the inner portion of said throat forming a protective sheath enveloping said sealing member to prevent the work load in said tub from contacting said sealing member and disturbing its engagement with said throat.
 5. The laundry machine set forth in claim 4 wherein said angle member comprises one wing extending at right angles from said throat and an inner wing paralleling said throat and positioned at the inner side of said sealing member, including a flexible band mounted on said inner wing and extending beyond the edge thereof for slidably engaging the inner wall of said door when the door is closed.
 6. The laundry machine set forth in claim 1 wherein said loading opening is left open to receive a work load at any time, including a splash flap on said frame and draped across said loading opening, said splash flap being yieldably movable to open position by pressure of a work load when the same is dumped into said loading opening.
 7. In a laundry machine: the combination of a stationary frame, a washer tub of imperforate construction and of a generally cylindrical shape for containing a work load and a washing liquid, said tub having loading and unloading circular openings in the opposite ends thereof concentric with the longitudinal axis of the tub, means free of said circular openings for supporting said tub on said frame in an inclined relationship to the horizontal for rotation About its longitudinal axis, said tub being mounted on said supporting means with the loading opening at the upper end and the unloading opening at the lower end thereof, a sealing door for said unloading opening engageable with said tub during rotation of the latter to close said unloading opening without leakage of washing liquid, and support means for said door hinged to said frame to permit the door to be swung between open and closed positions.
 8. The laundry machine set forth in claim 7 wherein said door has a chamber therein for a supply of free washing liquid, and the inner wall of said door is perforated to permit an interflow of washing liquid between said chamber and said tub.
 9. The laundry machine set forth in claim 8 including a dump valve at the bottom of said chamber, a drain funnel at the lower end of said machine, and an outlet pipe leading from said dump valve to said drain funnel when said door is closed.
 10. The laundry machine set forth in claim 8 including a drain valve at an intermediate level in said chamber of said door, a tank below said machine for re-use washing liquid to be pumped back into said tub, and a drain pipe leading from said drain valve to said tank when said door is closed.
 11. The laundry machine set forth in claim 8 including a temperature sensing means in said door chamber for indicating the temperature of said washing liquid.
 12. The laundry machine set forth in claim 11 including a steam inlet duct to said chamber controlled by said temperature sensing means for controlling an inflow of steam to maintain said washing liquid at a preset temperature.
 13. The laundry machine set forth in claim 8 including a level sensing means, and an inlet duct leading from said sensing means into said chamber for controlling the level of the washing liquid in said tub.
 14. In a laundry machine: the combination of a stationary frame, a washer tub of imperforate construction and of a generally cylindrical shape for containing a work load and a washing liquid, said tub having loading and unloading circular openings in the opposite ends thereof concentric with the longitudinal axis of the tub, means free of said circular openings for supporting said tub on said frame in an inclined relationship to the horizontal for rotation about its longitudinal axis, said tub being mounted on said supporting means with the loading opening at the upper end and the unloading opening at the lower end thereof, a door for said unloading opening, said door having a chamber therein for a supply of free washing liquid, said chamber being open to said tub to permit an interflow of washing liquid between said chamber and said tub. 